Division News

Staff were busy this month responding to students’ needs following the May 1 tragedy. They also supported students during finals season. CMHC staff spent time reflecting on the academic year during a retreat on May 19.

Amissa Miller at Hoppy Hour

The POWER (Prevention, Outreach, Wellness, Education and Response) House team honored student staff and volunteers at the annual Hoppy Hour. They enjoyed petting chickens, rabbits and other animals at the petting zoo event.

Food Service launched a new Commuter Meal Plan on May 8. The plan is available to non-resident students, faculty and staff.

After a successful trial period, Eco2Go will continue to be offered at J2 and Kinsolving Dining.

Food Service staff learn how to drum during Team Day.

Food Service staff held Team Day on May 18 to present awards to staff. Drum Café, a company that hosts corporate team-building events, led an exercise where staff played drums and learned how to work in harmony with one another.

Staff will promote services and student opportunities during orientation. The office will hold two Discover UT sessions at Freshman and Transfer Orientation: “Add a Chapter to Your Life!”, “Develop Your Leadership Skills on the Forty Acres” and “Find Your Fit: Connect with Campus Clubs.”

Student Activities staff are coordinating two student organization fairs and two nights of evening programming hosted by student organizations at each Freshman Orientation session. There will also be a student organization fair during Transfer Orientation.

Student Activities supports student organizations as they fundraise and recruit by tabling on campus. If your department works with a student organization, please remind them that students can table only on the east side of Speedway Mall. The west side of the thoroughfare must be clear for pedestrians and emergency access.

Jaden Felix at Iowa State University for the Big 12 Fraternity and Sorority Advisors Summer Meeting

Jaden Felix represented Sorority and Fraternity Life at the Big 12 Fraternity and Sorority Advisors Summer Meeting May 23-24. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss trends, topics and best practices in advising sororities and fraternities.

VPSA staff partnered with State Sen. Jose Menendez’s office to host more than 100 fourth-grade students and chaperones from San Antonio’s IDEA Monterrey Park on campus on May 31. Staff led a two-hour tour, showing the students Housing and Food Service, Recreational Sports and University Unions facilities.

Staff celebrated student staff at Rec City Limits on May 5. The team gathered at the newly-renovated Charles Alan Wright Fields at the Berry M. Whitaker Sports Complex. See photos of the event which featured food, games, live music and a tribute to 2017 graduates.

Approximately 1,000 faculty and staff participated in the 26th Annual RecSports Poker Walk on May 10 celebrating National Employee Health and Fitness Day. Many teams came in costume based on this year’s theme: Poker Walk Through Time, a nod to RecSports’ 100th See the photos and check out the contest winners.

Facility Operations staff facilitated eight convocations in Gregory Gym May 18-20: College of Education and Liberal Arts (Government, Psychology and Economics); Latino Community Affairs’ Latinx Graduation; Master in Professional Accounting and Business Administration; and School of Law.

Texas Parents continues to prepare for Family Orientation, a day-long program to introduce families to the university and its resources. Sessions are held on the first day of each student orientation and have a separate agenda from the students’ program. Over 2,500 families have registered to attend the program. See the Events section for dates.

Texas Parents will also facilitate Transfer Family Orientation to welcome the families of incoming transfer This day-long program informs them about resources available to support their student’s transition to UT Austin.

Texas Parents has hired 35 Family Orientation Student Staff to assist during Family Orientation and help with Texas Parents membership sales this summer.

All families have access to a new complimentary Texas Parents Association membership called U-Touch. This membership keeps families “in touch” with the university through multiple communication platforms. Families can also choose to sign up for a supporting membership with a gift to Texas Parents. Supporting members receive the same communication as U-Touch members, as well as additional benefits.

Texas Parents celebrated Morgane Le Marchand at a going-away-party on May 19. They also welcomed Shannon Cantlay to the team as assistant director of communication with bowling at the Union Underground.

Staff held the CSR Council meeting on May 12. The council includes staff, faculty, students, alumni, donors and community stakeholders. The group helps CSR grow in the areas of outreach, programming and development. Division partners include Maureen Brown and Teryl McFerrin, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and Cary Tucker, Counseling and Mental Health Center. David Ivey, Office of Sponsored Projects, also serves on the council.

On May 17 UHS medical providers thanked their colleagues with breakfast. The event showed appreciation for staff’s hard work and support in providing the highest-quality service for our students. Check out the photos.

Trish Bullock celebrated her retirement from University Health Services.

Staff hosted Mini-organizational Day where they heard updates from UHS departments and honored the President’s Staff Award recipients for their years of service. UHS also took time to celebrate Trish Bullock’s 19 years of service at UHS before her retirement on May 31.

Danielle Williams shared information at Getting to Know You.

The UHS diversity committee held their second annual “Getting to Know You” event in conjunction with CMHC on May 8. During this event staff members from both organizations were invited to share part of their identity by creating a display, making a dish or dressing up.

UHS celebrated the contributions of student employees at the Student Appreciation Party on May 5. They also recognized the Outstanding Student Health Leadership Award recipients.

Renovations on the Texas Union food court began on May 18. During the renovation, Chick-fil-A, Field of Greens and Smokehouse BBQ will be closed. These vendors will reopen in August. Smokehouse BBQ will be converted to Revolución Taco, a Mexican food concept from the owners of ZEN Japanese Food Fast.

On May 8 and 9 Texas Union and Student Activity Center staff hosted Finals Fest for students to unwind and prepare for end-of-semester exams. Activities included Finals Fair, a midnight pancake breakfast, free exercise and yoga classes, and more availability of study rooms. Campus Events+Entertainment also hosted Chillfest, bringing together more than 1,000 students on May 3.